'Arry has something Zola lacked - tactical nous

The Italian made the decision to tender his resignation immediately after yesterday`s apathetic 2-0 defeat to Burton Albion at St. Andrews. If any weekend since December epitomised Zola`s tenure, then Easter weekend it was.

One glance at the fixture list would have suggested relative safety for Blues going into games against Rotherham United and Burton Albion. But a solitary point over the Easter period proved to be a step too far for Zola. For all of his good intentions, he was incapable of turning his vision into reality.

Step forward Harry Redknapp.

At 70 years-old, 'Arry comes with a wealth of experience and a little tactical nous - two important things his predecessor did not possess. But, as Blues` new manager pointed out on TalkSport this morning, he does not have a magic wand.

His first task is to galvanise the squad. Losing can become a difficult habit to break when you`ve won only twice in 24 games so Redknapp will have to use every inch of his know-how to push Blues over the line.

First stop, Villa Park.

A second city derby that was being approached with dread now carries a slight optimism in the blue half of the city. Zola`s departure changes the mood around B9 - Redknapp`s appointment injects a dose of curiosity, excitement and hope into proceedings.

His claims that he will not 'turn them into Real Madrid` and that 'we need a win` was the perfect hit to the nail on the head. Forget pass, pass, pass and forget Zola`s 5-1-1-1-1-1 formation, because Redknapp will simplify the task in hand. Individually, the players will understand their role and collectively, the team will understand their remit.

Just as Redknapp understands his remit: safety. Nothing more, nothing less. We can dot the i`s and cross the t`s in the summer.

There is going to be a lot of people wanting him to fail Supply because they don't like us BCFC. they will try and spread the doubt they will come up with all sorts of resins why he is not the man for the job they will do all they can to discredit him because they are out to try and kill our club. We have to stand together as one and spit in the face of the media and the doubt speeding vile scum from up the road. We are Birmingham city the club that carry's the name of our fine city we are the only real Birmingham club for the people of Birmingham city. We will not be moved we will always be here and we will go all the way to the end of the road. This is our city KRO

I don't see anything more than wisdom coming from Arry. I like the bloke and always enjoy his interviews along with wanting him to get the England job, but he likes playing the same style of football to what Zola tried to get us playing and it isn't going to happen with this group of players. Pretty obvious to me that the players had thrown the towel in, and other teams have shown they wanted it more than us. We have been bullied and out worked by these teams simply because the mentality is to pass the other teams off the park rather than win the battle first and then the game if you can. Draws would have been enough, but no such thing as shutting up shop and keeping it simple. We lost to Derby because we went after the winner, nearly lost to Rotherham and gifted the game to Burton because they were physically stronger than us in every department.
For me I would have put Robbo in charge for the last three games. He would have got some graft and basic down to earth defending out of the players to try and keep a clean sheet. The question I have in mind though is are the players capable of this? We were getting pasted under Rowett and were truly battered at Burton, same at home to Barnsley and lucky against Ipswich prior to his sacking. Our defenders are not strong enough to hold players off, or decisive enough to just deal with a situation by putting the leather through the ball and the opposition player if they happen to get in the way. Playing little passes to each other in and around the penalty area to get applause from the fans has cost us a heap of goals this season to the point where I have got fed up of hearing myself say its yet another soft goal.
Even the mighty Rowett couldnt help bragging after his Derby got a couple of soft goals against us. Three wins and a draw he gloated, and then got stuffed 4-0 by Brentford, so regardless of manager its the players who have to step over the line and put a shift in, and IMO it will be down to relying on Blackburn and Forest slipping up to save us.